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Okay - this book is too long. :P

I listened to an interview with the author this morning. He is rather serious and an erudite writer. He has deeply studied (as well as taught) his craft.

I find this book to be rather straight. Just had to add that. Hehe!

This is one epic book. It feels like each quarter of the book could be its own individual novel. :)

I also kind of feel that there are so many episodes that if I miss any details, it actually doesn’t affect one’s ability to continue reading — which I guess is a nice characteristic. This is because the episodes feel like different points on a timeline that are each their own moment.

I found this book at the library and I have been curious to see what she wrote. It was the perfect opportunity - as I was never going to actually purchase the book. I think it is either a translation of what she wrote in her own native language and/or she had a ghostwriter. I’ll report back on what I think of the actual writing a little later. It is nonetheless interesting to get her perspective on the sidelines.

This book is well-written, but also is very challenging. There are a ton of characters and it is fairly dense.

What an amazing surprise of a book. For a book that was semi off-my-radar and is a debut and only novel of this writer, this book is really well-written and conceived.

Came across this book from an ad on Facebook. It seems like a cross between Chaim Potok and The Goldfinch. Definitely caught my attention. Hope it will be good! The reviews here are all positive.

This is amusing me that I have been reading this book off and on for four months. I haven’t had any issue returning to this book though. It is written so well and for anyone who has spent considerable time with pianos, it will be of great interest and insight. The pianos in the book are actually characters of their own.

This is a very well-written novel of literary fiction — with some elements of magical realism which adds to the psychological development of the main character.

I think I'm close to halfway through this book and I have to say, while I am listening to the songs concurrently through a YouTube playlist, it is one of the most random collection of songs. Dylan's takes on the songs sound like he was both waxing poetic and a bit drunk when he wrote his impressionistic take on each song. Not entirely sure what to make of this book! LOL

This book is phenomenal. Read it. That’s all. :)

This book is an incredible example of character development. The characters are insanely flawed, while also incredibly vivid. I did just get through a second flashback section giving some background to one character that felt like it wasn’t going to end (and was a bit confusing). This is really only the second lengthy flashback section that had me a bit confused, as there were new characters who appeared.

This book is a beautiful meditation on one man’s passion for surfing. It is poetically written. I will say it is a little long winded and probably could have been shortened, but doesn’t lack in content for being lengthy. A good editor maybe could have tightened the focus. With all that said, this book won the author a Pulitzer Prize, so I will rest my case. :)

Reading for CASA continuing education. This book is actually really good! (About a foster youth. It is a teen novel with a sports focus.)

This is an interesting book. I’m finding it a bit challenging as an audiobook— only because there nine different settings and periods in the book, and it doesn’t prominently announce when the scene has changed. There are also different characters in each setting and period — some which are hundreds of years apart. It makes for a story of varied style and delivery, but you can’t listen inattentively.

Absolutely love this book. Fascinating and so well written. Can’t stop listening to the audiobook.

Really open and honest so far. Glad I started this one. Was recommended by CASA

Wonderful thus far. ALW is most certainly a king of the West End and Broadway and speaks royally of his life in the theater. Brilliantly composed in words this time, and his britishisms crack me up. This is quite a tome and is only Vol 1. Vol 2 still to be written. Ultimately, I am reminded how much I love reading books about the history of the theater. There have been none on this topic that I have not enjoyed.

Wow. Just wow. Read this book.

It’s always an awesome moment when you have entered into a reading experience that you don’t want to stop. I have found that with this book. It is excellent and it is a long, epic story. I’m trying to stay in the moment and just experience as it rolls along. The story is told in segments which each are separated by 7 years over what I think is ultimately 70 years.

This is an incredible book. Likely to be one of my favorites I have read this year. It is lengthy and epic so expect more updates! :)

Okay - this book, which I expected to be hilarious - is nothing more than really foul at the halfway point. It is barely funny. This will likely be my ultimate findings and review of this book because I’m not enjoying it and will likely put it down.

Wonderful book. While it is described as 'funny,' I find it to be more of a human portrait of the cross-section of a family.

Love this book! A good one finally. Miranda never disappoints in her eclectic artfulness.

This is the weirdest book I have ever read. Not sure that I'm going to make it through

Sometimes there is a book where it takes three times over to get into it. I was about to stop listening to this book (as an audiobook) and then I realized I had started listening to it when I was beyond tired -- not a good way to start this book! Third time was a charm when I was listening again now awake and revived, and it is beautifully written! More to come!

Every once in awhile you come across a book that is such a gem that you can't step away. This is one -- I have a similar reaction to it as I did Wally Lamb's I Know This Much is True. This is a really hefty, long book -- a character study and study of the psychology of the four main characters. Join me in reading it!